Competency Versus Proficiency

Competency, defined, is the ability to do something successfully or efficiently. Proficiency is the degree of competence or expertise. This clarification of the two can assist a trainer/instructor when determining how they will measure and/or assess learning objectives in a course of training. While some objectives may only require assessing a specific "Competency" level, some objectives may require a more detailed look at what level of proficiency the student has performed.

Most often, I will set up a Result Schemain Blackboard Learn for a "Go/No-Go" column to measure objectives where I am only assessing the student's competency. For those areas where I need to measure their proficiency in the task, I will add an addition column with a Result Schema to show the level of proficiency performed.

For additional information on how I setup my Results Schemas in Blackboard Learn, please be on the lookout for my blog with the step-by-step instructions of feel free to comment!

Absolutely! It takes me back to my days in the United State Air Force. When an aircrew members is in Continuation Training, for example, we have a Parachutist that will need to perform 3 HALO (High Altitude Low Opening) Jumps in a 6 month period but to maintain their proficiency, these jumps must be performed 60 days apart. So when I measure the proficiency level of the member, I will factor in that, yes, the member has completed the 3 required jumps but since them member did all 3 jumps in the first week of the since month period, they are not as proficient as the individual that has done the jumps in 60-day breaks.